Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini did not hold back in his criticism of Ademola Lookman after the Nigerian forward missed a crucial penalty in their 3-1 home defeat to Club Brugge, sealing their Champions League exit with a 5-2 aggregate loss.
Lookman had given Atalanta a glimmer of hope by scoring early in the second half, but his missed spot-kick against Simon Mignolet halted their comeback. Gasperini was visibly frustrated, stating, “Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty. He is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen.”
The Italian coach insisted that designated takers Charles De Ketelaere or Mateo Retegui should have stepped up instead. “He has a frankly terrible record even in training. In a moment of enthusiasm after scoring, he decided to take the ball, and that was a gesture I did not appreciate at all,”Gasperini added.
Atalanta’s night worsened when captain Rafael Toloi received a straight red card for shoving Maxim De Cuyper in a heated exchange. Gasperini lamented the incident, urging his team to maintain composure.
“That was an ugly incident, and we must never lose our heads. Atalanta must leave the Champions League with dignity, having played great games against the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Barcelona.”
With their European campaign over, Atalanta, currently third in Serie A, will shift focus back to domestic competition as they aim for a strong league finish.
